The live event at the PlayStation Theater in New York City could be the first time O'Rourke has taken questions publicly -- aside from his social media channels -- since a mid-December town hall in El Paso.

The interview, among others Winfrey is conducting that day, will be broadcast on the Oprah Winfrey Network and released as a podcast.

O'Rourke's political activity in recent weeks has largely centered on countering President Donald Trump's push for a wall along the US-Mexico border via videos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Aides and friends say he is weighing a presidential run, but that he is hesitant to spend more time away from his three young children after a grueling Senate campaign. O'Rourke is likely to decide on a presidential run in February at the earliest, two sources close to him said this week.